| Introduction |
|
| |
Location and Size of Sumbawanga Municipality
The Municipal of Sumbawanga is found in south-west Tanzania , in South Highlands of Ufipa Plateau. It is located between latitudes 7 48'S and 8 31' 0 0 south of the Equator, and longitudes 30 0 29'E and 31 49' 0 east of the Prime Meridian. The municipal covers an area of 1329 km2. Sumbawanga Municipal Council is one of five councils of Rukwa region. Others are Sumbawanga Rural, Mpanda Rural, Mpanda Urban and Nkasi. The municipality comprises of two divisions of Lwiche and Itwelele, and has 13 wards and 25 villages (Figure 2). The headquarters of Rukwa region and Sumbawanga District Council are found within the municipality. At the municipal level, the administrative tasks are entrusted to Sumbawanga Municipal Council leadership. The leadership is assisted by the 13 ward executive officers, who are in turn assisted by several hamlets and Mitaa leadership. The divisional leadership is answerable to district commissioner office.
|
| |
|
| |
Climate
The municipal is characterised by dry sub-humid climate for most part of the year. The average temperature is 27 C. It is cool, dry, and often windy from May to October. The coolest months are June and July, when the temperature is as low as 16 and ven 5° C. The municipal gets moderate rainfall: 900 mm to 1000 mm per year, an average of 646.8 mm. It begins in November and ends approximately late April. The rains are usually accompanied with lightning.
The vegetation in the municipal mostly comprises of grassland and bushes. Woodlands occupy on hill slopes and tops
|
| |
Population and Human Influence
According to census records of 2002, the population of Rukwa Region was 1,141,743. This was 3.39% of the total population of Tanzania mainland (then 33,584,607). It has grown rapidly. In 1988, the population of the entire Rukwa Region was 698,718 people, at 10 people per square kilometre.
Of the municipal land, 890 kms are feasible for agriculture. However, only 228 - 325 kms are cultivated. The remaining are used for activities including grazing, forestry, and mining. Available minerals include coal, emerald, and green tourmaline. The urban proper occupies a total of 36.56 km . This constitutes of infrastructure including business and trading centres, residences, and small-scale industries
|
| |
|
